As we look back on another Presidents Day weekend, we may remember fondly all the fun we had enjoying the three day weekend with our loved ones. Often, presidents day means spending the extra day with friends or loved ones, which usually involves lots of cooking- or maybe even barbecuing!

While we all love a holiday weekend, and it is great to look back and honor the great men like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln who have led our nation in the past, holiday weekend festivities can often lead to a mess in your home and plumbing. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to help you take care of your home after all your Presidents Day festivities.

Clog Prevention

A clogged pipe can really put a damper on your holiday weekend. There are some simple things that can help you avoid a clogged drain, though.

Always keep in mind that any grease, oils, or fats can NOT be disposed of in the sink.

While some believe it’s okay to dispose of cooking grease in your sink if you run hot water, the problem is that once the hot water stops running, the grease will eventually settle and harden somewhere in your pipes.

The hardened grease will clog the pipe, even if only partially, and you’ll end up paying for it. If you’ve been guilty of pouring grease down the sink drain, don’t panic! A professional drain cleaning will help you get all that old grease and oil, as well as other debris out of your pipes.

Food Disposal

Another way you can prevent clogged drains and pipes is by installing a garbage disposal in your kitchen sink.

Garbage disposals can help you get rid of certain types of food quickly, without having to worry about them clogging your drain, so you can get back to enjoying the long weekend with your family.

While not all food can be washed down your sink, thinks like citrus peels can be ground up to keep your sink drain smelling fresh. Other things like rice, highly fibrous vegetables, and coffee grounds should be kept out of the garbage disposal.

Drain Cleaning

The best way to avoid your long weekend being ruined by clogged pipes is to schedule a drain cleaning with a trusted plumber. In fact, scheduling regular drain cleanings should happen every 6 to 12 months.

This can help you get rid of stubborn clogs, reduce odors from food rotting in your drains, lower the risk of having a plumbing emergency, and help your sink drain empty faster.

Having a plumber come out to clean your drains can also give your plumber an opportunity to identify any other potential issues with your drain or pipes. We truly hope you enjoyed the long Presidents' Day weekend, and all the festivities that may have come with it.

Perhaps you didn’t host your friends and family for the long weekend this year. Perhaps you spent it at a loved one’s home. If so, send this article their way to give them some tips about taking care of their clogged pipes and drains.

When it comes to drain-cleaning and clogged drain pipes, many people might prefer to have their drains snaked, or augered, to remove an obstruction. This is because snaking is significantly cheaper than hydro-jetting.

Why then do some still choose to hire a hydro-jetting service? Simply put, hydro jetting does a more effective job clearing out major obstructions. Where snaking can only clear a path through the pipe as wise as the auger itself, hydro jetting can clear the pipe completely.

But what is hydro jetting, exactly? Is the service really worth the extra cost, or does snaking do just as well for far less? Who can you call in the event that you do decide to have your drains hydro-jetted? Read on for answers to these and other important questions about hydro jetting.

What is Hydro Jetting & Why is it Needed?

Hydro jetting is a service that uses a highly pressurized stream of water to remove a clog or blockage from a drain or pipe. Often, small obstructions can be removed with an auger or even a plunger. If the blockage is more severe, however, then hydro jetting is the most effective way of cleaning the pipe.

Hydro-jetting may be needed if:

• Regular methods of drain cleaning, like snaking, won't clear more severe blockages.
• You experience slow drainage, recurring clogs, multiple drains clogging at one time, or a sewage back-up.
• You are having any kind of work done on your pipes (fixing a leak, repairing a crack, addressing a corrosion issue, etc.). Hydro jetting can make the job easier by removing any buildup in your pipes that may affect the outcome of the job.

Average Cost of Hydro Jetting Service

As with most plumbing services, the cost of hydro jetting depends on the unique needs of your home and plumbing system.

On average, hydro jetting services can run anywhere from $300 to upwards of $500, depending on the severity of the blockage, the location of the clog in the drain or line, and even the area in which you live.

In some more extreme cases, a complicated job could cost you as much as $1,000 at some plumbing services!

Call A & A Plumbing to Keep Your Drains Clean

At A & A Plumbing, we know you have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to hiring a drain cleaning service… but we also know that we are your best option!

As a local family owned and operated business, we understand better than anyone the pipe cleaning needs of the San Antonio area. A & A Plumbing always places your safety and comfort at the top of our list of priorities!

We promise to work with you to find the best and most affordable solution for your drain problems. Our plumbing technicians always work efficiently and responsibly, even wearing shoe covers so as not to leave you with a mess to clean up! The best part is, we offer upfront pricing on all our services! That means there are no surprise charges or fees you have to pay once the job is done!

Start the New Year off With a Professional Drain Cleaning Appointment

As the clock ticks down on New Year’s Eve, you may be celebrating with family and friends. You may also be ready to move ahead with any resolutions you’ve made for 2018.

It’s hard to keep resolutions though, so why not get a jump start and check some home maintenance off your list while it is still 2017? Make an appointment for a professional drain clean and you can start 2018 with great water and healthy plumbing.

Clean Free Flowing Water

Sometimes food particles and other residues can gather in your pipes and drains, creating an awful odor as it begins to decompose.

Do you want your family’s drinking water traveling through that particular path? It’s not pleasant in your entire home when you’ve got a foul smell wafting from your drains.

There are more bacteria and germs present, which can pose other health dangers. Drain cleaning is a great way to freshen your drains and pipes and keep water flowing well.

Reduce Pesky Clogs

Is water backing up in your shower? Drains bubbling? It’s possible that there are clogs in your drains.

Just like you risk clogging your pipes if you put things down there that don’t belong, the residue can gather in your drains and create an unsavory environment. The best way to avoid this inconvenience is to get your drains cleaned.

Save Money

As a homeowner, you are constantly trying to cut costs wherever you can. Preventative maintenance goes a long way to helping keep costs down by extending some of your home’s components.

This is particularly true when it comes to your plumbing. Clogged drains and pipes will age and decay more quickly, requiring you to replace them sooner than you will if you maintain them will drain cleaning.

You can also save money on your water bills, which can be high here in San Antonio, TX. Free flowing water means steady pressure, which means that you need to use less water. Lower bills!

Get Rid of Bothersome Noises

Do you ever experience strange squeaking or cracking sounds coming from your drains? That’s likely because there is a buildup of calcium or other mineral matter that is causing these sounds. Cleaning your drains out will eliminate the problem altogether.

With all of the benefits of drain cleaning, are you surprised that you haven’t done this sooner? Get this done early in 2018. You’ll be glad that you did.